So, I had this crazy idea and I’m curious to see what you’d think of it.

If Microsoft is seriously looking at moving into gaming as a cross-platform thing, it occurs to me that one big step they could make would be to create their own game engine for the use of the developers they’re acquiring, and also to license out to other developers. I mean, from what I understand that could be a BIG move for them that would have a HUGE impact on the industry. I’ve heard it said that Microsoft is amazing at designing tools for software developers, and that would really leverage their “core competency” and put them in a position to have much broader effects on the games industry than they would just by buying games developers and selling gaming systems.

What do you guys think?

Jennifer

39:16 Mailbag: Games that miss the mark.

Dear Diecast,

When it comes to games that miss the mark, what is the worst or most painful combination in your eyes? A game with an excellent story/characters/writing but bad mechanics/gameplay, or a game with excellent mechanics/gameplay and a bad story/characters/writing? Of those two, which would be more disappointing to you?

And on the same note, are there any exceptions to your answer that you can think of out of the games you’ve played in the past, where that element was strong enough that it kept you interested to the end (and maybe even happy) despite its flaws?

Best,Marcus Virgil

46:15 Mailbag: Dragon Age Inquisition

Hi!

I’m playing Dragon Age Inquisition right now, and one thing that bothers me a lot (besides one sidequest bug) is that we are playing as the head of organization are running around doing stuff expanding influence, claiming land and gaining favors (I’m doing everything there, because I just can’t left things; I know I have a problem). But our opposing force (cultists + Coripheus) aren’t as proactive. We are stopping their plan in the region, and that’s it, no retaliation (unless you go and do main plot, I suspect). It feels like chess is played only by me, and the opponent is skipping his turns. That aspect should’ve been done not via standard rpg questing in huge maps with copy-paste side content and such, but via some kind of strategy level management (a-la expanded X-Com or simplified Civilization or Crusader Kings; I think King Arthur games combined story driven rpg with strategy), with occasional mission only for Inquisitor. That would change the genre, but would fit the story way more (not that story is bad, actually I’m surprised that its better than I expected). Older games didn’t have that disconnect. In KOTOR / Mass Effect you’re basically small infiltration team and your gains are intelligence and nothing more. In DAO you’re opposing mindless force, so it makes sense that it isn’t that proactive (and even then it was shown expanding its territory).

Have you noticed that? Do you think that genre change would’ve make DAI better? Any other commentary on this?

Perhaps it would have been good to stop at a nice round number like 256, but we decided to keep making these for some reason. As always, the show email is in the header image. Your browser does not support the audio element. Direct download (MP3) Direct download (ogg Vorbis) Podcast RSS feed. Hosts: Paul, Shamus. Episode edited by Issac. Show n ...…

Welcome to Diecast #28. Honestly, it seems like a waste to keep going after hitting such a sweet landmark. The first episode of the Diecast was posted on February 14, 2013. Most episodes run just slightly over an hour, but occasionally they run to 1.5 hours and very rarely they approach 2. If we assume the average length is an hour and 20 minut ...…

Welcome to Diecast #28-1! Just a heads up: This episode is basically me talking frantically for an hour while Paul does his best to squeeze in the occasional sentence fragment. If you’re here for me, then this should be fun. If you’re here for a conversation, then I have failed you. I wasn’t sure what to do about Avengers: Endgame spoilers. The ...…

I know Avengers: Endgame is the big topic on the internet this week, but I hadn’t seen it when we recorded this show. I saw it Sunday, and I’m sure we’ll talk about it next week. Your browser does not support the audio element. Direct download (MP3) Direct download (ogg Vorbis) Podcast RSS feed. Hosts: Paul, Shamus. Episode edited by Issac. Sho ...…

As always, the email address is in the header image. We tried to get all the questions this week, but the last one was a big too big to squeeze in at the end of the show. Your browser does not support the audio element. Direct download (MP3) Direct download (ogg Vorbis) Podcast RSS feed. Hosts: Paul, Shamus. Episode edited by Issac. Show notes: ...…

Your browser does not support the audio element. Direct download (MP3) Direct download (ogg Vorbis) Podcast RSS feed. Hosts: Paul, Shamus. Episode edited by Issac. Show notes: 00:00 The News FROM SPACE! As a reminder: I get excited about SPACE NEWS but I’m pretty ignorant when it comes to astronomy and space exploration. I only follow the shall ...…

We have an extra-long show for you this week. Note that I’m not promising it’ll be the same quality. I’m just saying there will be more of it. Your browser does not support the audio element. Direct download (MP3) Direct download (ogg Vorbis) Podcast RSS feed. Hosts: Paul, Shamus. Episode edited by Issac. Show notes: 00:00 Dumpster Kittens Link ...…

It’s April 1st, and tradition holds that I should deck the site out in silly images or somesuch. I didn’t have time for that this week, so a header image with nonsensical round dice will have to do. Also, let this serve as a friendly reminder to read the internet carefully today. PAX East happened this past weekend. If I’d been doing my job, th ...…

In this episode, my email works when it shouldn’t, Satisfactory works better than it should, and my computer stops working right on time. Your browser does not support the audio element. Direct download (MP3) Direct download (ogg Vorbis) Podcast RSS feed. Hosts: Paul, Shamus. Episode edited by Issac. Show notes: 01:55 Shamus’ Computer Died Like ...…

It’s a bit of a weird one this week, I’m afraid. Paul and I both bought vehicles and the resulting conversation ate a third of the show. On the other hand, we’re giving away a free copy of a game, so maybe that makes up for all the car talk. Details at the end of the show / show notes. Your browser does not support the audio element. Direct dow ...…

Last week I asked for mailbag questions, and you delivered. Well, technically the email system is the one that did the delivering, but you get what I’m saying. Here is over an hour of question-answering. Your browser does not support the audio element. Direct download (MP3) Direct download (ogg Vorbis) Podcast RSS feed. Hosts: Paul, Shamus. Epi ...…

Yes, we do spend a little time talking Anthem and Warframe. I know this is the third week in a row and this website isn’t really the core audience for looter-shooters. Hopefully you can put up with one more week of this. On the upside, we also talk some programming. Like I said on the show, the mailbag is empty. The email address is in the head ...…

I hope you’re a looter-shooter fan, because that’s what the first 40 minutes of this show is about. If not, we also answer some mailbag questions. Your browser does not support the audio element. Direct download (MP3) Direct download (ogg Vorbis) Podcast RSS feed. Hosts: Paul, Shamus. Episode edited by Issac. Show notes: 00:00 Shamus stopped pl ...…

Thanks to the folks who sent in questions. We still have a few in the queue, but as always the email is in the header image. Your browser does not support the audio element. Direct download (MP3) Direct download (ogg Vorbis) Podcast RSS feed. Hosts: Paul, Shamus. Episode edited by Issac. Show notes: 00:00 Apex Legends Is the Battle Royale craze ...…

Your browser does not support the audio element. Direct download (MP3) Direct download (ogg Vorbis) Podcast RSS feed. Hosts: Paul, Shamus. Episode edited by Issac. Show notes: 00:00 Welcome Back! We only missed one week, but I’m coming out of an illness and I feel like I was gone for a month. 02:06 Trailmakers Link (YouTube) 06:46 JAI Four year ...…

As always, if you’ve got questions for the show, the email is in the header image of this post. If you’ve got multiple questions, don’t be afraid to send multiple emails. One short email with a clear question has a better chance of being used than a long email of several unrelated questions. Your browser does not support the audio element. Dire ...…

In this latest episode of our innovative and groundbreaking podcast, two guys talk about some videogames. But unlike those other podcasts, we don’t waste time talking about popular games that are relevant to your experience. Instead we focus on obscure indies or older titles. You’re welcome. Your browser does not support the audio element. Dire ...…

Happy 2019! We start off the year with positivity and praise. It lasts almost half an hour before we spiral back into complaining and snark. We tried. Your browser does not support the audio element. Direct download (MP3) Direct download (ogg Vorbis) Podcast RSS feed. Hosts: Paul, Shamus. Episode edited by Issac. Show notes: 00:00 Into the Spid ...…

This is it. In this extra-long Diecast we’re cleaning out the mailbag. All questions are answered. I can’t promise that they’ll be answered correctly or even coherently, but you will get some form of mouth-noises in response to your inquiries. Also note that we spend the first half of the show looking back on 2018, which means I’m sort of spoil ...…

Here it is. Our rambling, goofy, leave-in-all-the-mistakes Christmas Eve show. As hard as it might be to believe, I was sober during this. The whole time. I don’t know what was wrong with my brain. Sure, I made some questionable gaffs, but since nobody will listen to this episode I guess that’s fine. Next episode will be the last of the year, s ...…

Look at the date! We are quickly running out of year. And now that I’m thinking about it, we’re also kinda running out of decade. But as luck would have it, we’ve got plenty of week left. So let’s squander some time talking about videogames. Your browser does not support the audio element. Direct download (MP3) Direct download (ogg Vorbis) Podc ...…

For whatever reason, my audio is blown out in this episode. I have no idea why. I checked it on my end before we started recording and the levels looked good. This happened a couple of weeks ago and I’m not sure where this is going wrong. It’s amazing that I’ve made 235 of these silly things and I’m still running into new ways that things can f ...…

I don’t know why, but I really enjoyed making this episode. If you usually give the podcast a miss but you’re curious about it, then this is a good one to start with. I think we’re going to have SoldierHawk on next week. If you have any questions for either of us, the show email is in the header image. Your browser does not support the audio el ...…

This week we clean out the mailbag and answer a bunch of questions. Also note that we’re going to spoil the new Wreck-it-Ralph movie. I haven’t seen it, but Paul has and he has things to say about it. Your browser does not support the audio element. Direct download (MP3) Direct download (ogg Vorbis) Podcast RSS feed. Hosts: Paul, Shamus. Episod ...…

I feel like we’re overdue for another SoldierHawk visit. I like to invite her on the show when she’s finished with a game, and right now she’s playing through three games at once. Hopefully we can make another visit happen before the end of the year. Your browser does not support the audio element. Direct download (MP3) Direct download (ogg Vor ...…

This week we bring you yet another show, now with 15 extra minutes of show. You get 25% more show for the same money. That’s a good value! On the other hand, the first 25 minutes are basically a spoiler for my column later in the week. Your browser does not support the audio element. Direct download (MP3) Direct download (ogg Vorbis) Podcast RS ...…

Here we spend half the show talking about Halloween, everyone’s favorite blend of stranger danger, cosplay, and diabetes! I know a lot of American culture leaks out into the rest of the world, but I don’t know if that includes Halloween. How widespread is the practice of dressing up in costume and begging around the neighborhood for candy? Your ...…

As always: If you’ve got a question for the show, our email is in the header image. Thanks to everyone who sent in questions this week. Your browser does not support the audio element. Direct download (MP3) Direct download (ogg Vorbis) Podcast RSS feed. Hosts: Paul, Shamus. Episode edited by Issac. Show notes: 02:06 The Social Network. Yes, I’m ...…

I normally keep my microphone on a swivel arm so it can hover near my mouth. The swivel arm fell apart last week and I’m not sure it can be saved, which is why I sound like I’m recording in an echo chamber now. I’m trying to work out some sort of arrangement where I can put the microphone closer to my mouth without needing to build a ridiculous ...…

Lots of complaining about personal problems in this episode. I don’t want to pin the blame on anyone in particular, but I will say that Paul never made any effort to stop me. For those of you who have been complaining the the podcast RSS doesn’t work, can you give this one a try and see if it works for you? It’s maintained by a listener, and ho ...…

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